By the time that Gizerak finishes the unavoidable leadership role that he must play in the funerals, it is late afternoon. They set out for Merak Town, missing their dinner.

By the time they arrive, it is after dark. The sentries at the town gate recognize them and welcome them back. Merak Town is still bustling after the recent takeover. Residents that took refuge in nearby provinces are now returning home. The mood is celebratory.

OOC: Where do the henchmen want to lodge for the evening? The Imperial Army Headquarters? Gizerak's family? an inn?

"I believe that we will be able make sure the prisoner is secure there. We should each take a turn helping with the night watch over him though. I would hate for us to be surprised by Bon-Quo's minions if they were to try to retrieve their comrade. I am going to take a quick jaunt to see my family and wish them well. I will return shortly to join you all here."

Before he leaves, he asks Fugen to consult his maps, perhaps getting more from the Imperial Army's cartographers to help determine their return route.

__________________Je porte mon fromage dans mon slip.

---It's practically impossible to look at a penguin and feel angry.---

Signing, Fugen indicates that it isn't necessary to consult with the Army cartographers, as they simply need to travel on the Imperial Highway.

As Gizerak goes to visit his family, Fugen goes about obtaining manacles for their prisoner and lodging him for the night with the other prisoners the Imperial Army had captured. He offers his own services to help with the watch, and also makes sure that the others in the group do the same (especially Kierna, who can watch most of the night by herself).

__________________
Physics is like sex. Sometimes it yields practical results, but that's not why we do it.
-Richard Feynman

At the Imperial Headquarters, the army is unwilling to accept prisoners from the Temple of Stone. The imperial officers do not believe that Bon Quo's underlings fall under military jurisdiction, and so they refer them to the civil authorities.

At the town hall, the acting prefect is willing to imprison the mercenary overnight, but would prefer that the henchmen leave him to face trial.

Back at the Imperial Army Headquarters, the henchmen are given comfortable accomodations, and stabling is provided for their mounts. Fugen is welcome to consult their maps.

The regiment is refitting and preparing to move out the next morning. They intend to follow the highway northwest then cross the Crown River and pursue the Aikou forces across the mountains to Anmi.

Gizerak finds his family and the entire community in shock at the news from the Temple. They are appalled at the turn of events but proud of Gizerak for thwarting Bon Quo.

OOC: How far do you intend to travel each day on the way back to the dreaded tower? Stay in inns or camp out? How will the prisoner be transported? Which route will you take? The highway through QingShan Province and Shen village, or the minor road that cuts straight from Huoyanshan to ZunYan? (feel free to consult the maps in the Campaign Info thread)

At the acting prefect's suggestion that the mercenary remain behind to stand trial, Fugen finds himself in an uncomfortable situation. Using Linus to translate (or writing, if necessary) Fugen lets the Prefect know that having Golock interrogate the prisoner could provide valuable information that could lead to the final defeat of Akiou and the restoration of the empire. As such, they really need to transport him to Ichiba (as it is highly unlikely that Golock will come to them). However, if the prefect would like to send along a set of guards to accompany the prisoner to Ichiba, Fugen is sure that Golock will let them escort him back to Merak for trial after he is done interrogating him.

***

Later that evening, Fugen asks around to see if anyone knows what the recent weather in Huoyanshan has been like, and what effect that has had on the conditions of the cart trails.

__________________
Physics is like sex. Sometimes it yields practical results, but that's not why we do it.
-Richard Feynman

The prefect consents for the henchmen to take the prisoner, and declines to send any guards with them. Gizerak and the henchmen have earned such credibility in Merak Hoi over the last two days that he is content to trust their word that the prisoner will eventually return for trial. He loans them a set of manacles. The Imperial Army donates them a horse from the spoils of the battle.

They are restricted to the speed of their slowest mounts, which are the halfling’s ponies.

The next morning they set out. the weather is mostly dry in this warmest season of the year, and the weather is clear. There is steady traffic, but not heavy enough to slow them down.

By mid afternoon they have reached Termix’ home village.

OOC: Current location: 01E/41N. Regardless of the encumbrance of the horses, the group is restricted to a move rate of 40 (32 miles a day + any forced marching etc). They have expended 28 miles worth by they time they reach Termix’ village.

Signing, Fugen indicates that they can push on by one of two routes from here. If the weather has been good recently, they can use the shorter route that goes directly to ZunYan province. If it hasn't, then they should stick to the highway and travel via QingShan.

He then let's one of the others go about inquiring after the weather and road conditions, as it is bound to be much faster for them to do so.

__________________
Physics is like sex. Sometimes it yields practical results, but that's not why we do it.
-Richard Feynman

The henchmen do not get far into the village before a crowd assembles to greet them. Not only is Termix a famous son of the village, but the henchmen are local heroes for saving the village from the menace in Mikon's tower a month ago.

Termix' mother is disappointed that her son does not want to visit his home, but she is the daughter of Golock, after all. She is well accustomed to rude behavior from the wizards in the family.

Typically, the latter part of summer is fairly dry, and this summer is no exception. The rains of late summer are typically violent storms that do not last long. Fortunately, the local druid does not forecast any impending precipitation.

Given the weather forcast, Fugen suggest taking the more direct route. They should be just shy of the border with ZunYan province when they are forced to make camp tonight, and then should be able to get to Ichiba, and Golock's tower on the marrow.

[OOC: By my count 40 miles would occur at the road intersection just shy of the border. The party should camp out there (or maybe stay with a farmer or in an inn if one is available). It is then 22 miles to Golock's tower, a distance easily managed on the following day.]

__________________
Physics is like sex. Sometimes it yields practical results, but that's not why we do it.
-Richard Feynman

The henchmen must camp out. They do not have good camping equipment, but fortunately it is a warm, dry summer night. The last time half of the group took this path when it was muddy and treacherous. Now it is easy. The next day, they pass through the the border checkpoint with no problems and cross QingShan province to the Dreaded Tower.

They arrive in midafternoon. THey can immediately tell that something is wrong. The front gate is wide open, and no sentry is visible on the battlements. There is a huge hole in the side of the main tower. Once they get closer they can see a mason patiently mortaring stones to repair the hole. Two apprentices are working from a cart in the courtyard, loading stones and raising them up to the hole with a pully.

Barnabus eventually appears. He listlessly approaches the henchmen. Without introduction, he says “Someone attacked the tower. Golock disappeared. Yi and Si were killed. There is a scroll upstairs that might tell us something, but we need a wizard to make sure it is safe to read.” He starts to lead them upstairs. In the lounge they find a gnome. “This is Takeshi” introduces Barnabus.

Takeshi sees a massive barbarian in the back of the group, instantly identifiable as foreign by his ruddy and freckled light skin, wavy blonde hair pulled back into a bun in a the local fashion, and light blue eye's. Apart from this though, he wears a tunic of imperial fashion and carries a massive curved katana on his back. He apears near seven feet tall, with wide shoulders but a narrow waist. He glares silently, saying nothing.

Takeshi rises to his feet as the henchmen enter and bows respectfully to them.

"I am honored to meet you, though I wish it were not in these circumstances. As our friend Barnabus has indicated, I am Sato Takeshi. It seems that the spirits have drawn our destinies together. I was told by the people of the Village of the Five Martyrs that the henchmen of Golock had received the blessing of the Martyrs only days before I myself did."

Noticing the foreigner's tunic he continues, indicating the imperial seal on his own tunic.

"Although perhaps our destinies have crossed before, tall one. I had the honor of serving as caretaker to the imperial gardens before these dark times."

Were it not for the seriousness of Golock's disapearence, Fugen would have broken out laughing at the suggestion of Flarrgj working in the Imperial Palace. Instead, the courier merely smiles and gestures Termix forward to examine the scroll which Barnabas had mentioned.

__________________
Physics is like sex. Sometimes it yields practical results, but that's not why we do it.
-Richard Feynman

Termix unfurls the scroll. It is written, almost entirely, in a fancy formal script. The calligraphy is quite good. Termix reads aloud.

“Greetings, Mortals! I am the mightly and immortal wizard Nakigara, elder of a distinguished and honored clan. I owed a debt of revenge against the foul wizard Golock who sent his minions to murder my great-grandson Nakigara the Fourth at the Imperial Library. At the location where this scroll is found I claimed that debt by killing the wizard with..” and next there is a blank space where someone hastily added the word “DISTINTEGRATION.” Then the fancy script resumes. “I, Nakigara, have prevailed! My clan is avenged! The end”

As Termix reads “The End” suddenly a snake appears, emerging from the scroll. Termix is startled. The snake bites him on the neck and then disappeares in a puff of flash of brown light accompanied by a puff of dun-colored smoke. Termix is engulfed in a shimmering amber field of force and immobilized. He stands frozen, like a statue.